The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-18
AN ODD BAPTISM
with a Chain Rattling Around
His Neck.
CHARLEY EDWARDS MAKES HIS EXIT.

zone, and Charley Edwards the murderer of
William Echols, realized that this was the first
hour of the last day of his existence on earth.
The sun rose and Charley might look On HIM
for his last time with mortal eyes. The waves
OF human beings which passed by told him
that many would come from far and near to
witness his awful departure. He now felt the
sting produced by numbering an innocent man.
HE could look with the eye of imagination and
See the house OF William Echols empty. With
all this weight and crime upon him he said
shat God has forgiven him, and that soon his
spirit will be in better world. He says the
iron chains which hang about his neck soon
will be off, and in its stead will hang a robe
washed white in the blood of the Lamb.
A sensational incident occurred on yesterday
Thomas Scott, colored, of Toccoa, arrived at
Che jail where Charley Edwards is confined.
He had been sent for by Charley for the pur-
pose of baptiZing him. The authorities had
granted him that privilege, and soon the male
members of the colored Baptist church were
at work building dam across the branch, lust
below the jail for the occasion. The hour OF
twelve came, and with chain around his neck,
accompanied by the sheriff, his deputy, and
guard Of FIVE, with double-barreI guns, Char
ley came out of the Jail and slowly walked
down to the waters edge. He stood by the
side of the old preacher, looking calm, not in
Ghe least excited.
The third chapter of Matthew was read af
Ger which the preacher said:
"Charley says he found Jesus precious to
his soul on July the It'll, and let us pray"
The prayer was feyent and earnest. He
fhen sang assisted by the surrounding few:
Down to the sacred way,
The Lord Of nm was led
He then went down into the water, and
Charley was baptized. He rose and inme-
diately exclaimed:
"Glory, glory to God!"
Then with more satisfied look he was led
back TO the cell to spend his last night this
side Of eternity.
Sun-up found your correspondent at the Jail,
and found Edwards awake.
"Row do you feel, Charlie, this morning?"
81 never felt better"
"Did you rest well last night?"
He did not answer TO this question: but rose
slowly from his couch and llnelt down and
prayed about five minutes. He then rose and
said:
I 81 retired at o'clock and did not 90 to
sleep till 3 o'clock then slept soundiy till
you came"
''Do you feel prepared to de?"
81 do The thought makes me happy"
ado you feel more satisfied to die since you
was bajtized?"
81 10. All is well now"
'Do you still claim TO be guilty of killing
Echols?''
81 am guilty of that charge, but have never
killed any other man, as has been reported. |
Will'nake pubic confession and tell you all
except what l want to come out i'll my life
which L have written
''YoU expect to have il published, then ?"
81 viii give it to my wife, and she can do as
she pleaSeS with it."
He then took out his pipe and lit it, and
seemed to enjoy the smoke.
BY - O'Clock the throng was immense,
unibering over five thousand. At that hour
the prisoner was taken from the Jail, drawn by
two horses. He sat robed in white with black
cap on, and was carried slowly TO
the galloWs lie sang hymns all the
way to mis- last place OF existence.
AT 2:20 the sheriff led him on the sc8tfold
accompanied by the county officers Solicitor
Erwin Thompson, DrS. Houston and Burns,
A. j. Ketron, McJuIkin and Moss, also two
or three newspaper representatives.
Preacher Scott, colored, presided i'll the RELIC
ioUS exercises. Charley rose to his feet and
said:
want Won all to know this, am the man who
killed William Echos no one but me and the Al
goil to kill him. will die feeling 50 r. for what
boob have doge 9qght t to die cbol hare
9e'h did "''G not Kin N then f' DIV 9iIy' ksd
William Echols. You viii find what I say in my
life written by my own hand Before killing Mr..
EchOls I stood by the road, one mile 1t COW Mount
Airy, and when saw him coming did not mean
70 kin him, but in the dark thought | say him put
twice. lie fell but not dead lie said:
Oh, Lord! On, Charlie, do not leave ne; am i'll
TROUBLED
three times with a stick. Twas sorry all the time
chat snot him.
A question was asked from the multitude:
"Did you shoot him for money!"
81 did not shoot him for money. Lizzie
Kinsy was the cause"
lie then said
~ love everybody. hold no malice toward
I tg, oil NV fpiOr 1e IN,
better world GrieYe not after me. ] am
sorry to my heart, The Lord is my help.
FAREWELL"
The rope was adjusted at Bop. M, and the
trigger sprung by r. J. Gastley, sheriff. The
body was suspended fifteen minutes. One
minute before his pulse was 100, temperature
80. The body was taken 10 Mount Airy by his
friends for interment. Order was preserved
all day.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
1t was on the 29th of May last, at 9 o'clock
at night, that William Echols, of Rabun Gap
junction, Habersham county, Ga, was on his
way home from Mt. AIRY, when Charley Ed
wards, colored, met him, one mile below Mt.
Airy, and with 32-calibre Smith & Wesson
pistol shot Echols dead.
He vas not satisfied with one shot, but re-
peatod it four times Edwards told one Of the
Smportant witnesses that after he had shot his
victim the first time that Echols lifted his
hands and exclaimed:
"Oh. Charley, what have L done that you
should treat me in this way?"
Edwards thought he heard some one COM
sng, so he dragged the dying man out Of the
road and down the hill, and there riGGled his
body with bullets. Not satisfied with this, he
took a club and beat the dead mans brains
out.
Edwards was arrested Immediately after the
murder, and OH crcumstantial evidence was
placed in Habersham county jail,
The circumstances were so strong that no one
doubted his guilt. The fact that he had made
murdoroUs threats and that he was missing at
the time of the murder, and stronger still,
that his shirt, pants and hat were spattered
with blood, all told the story of the deed. But
again--he told one Of the prisoners who was s
the same cell, that the pistol with which he
killed Echols was buried under his house, and
on examination was found where he had put
1T, and showed traces of blood. This evidence
was enough, but what was still stronger, Char
ley Edwards says that he himself committed
the deed.
On Thursday morning, the 8th instant the
town OF Clarilsyille was crowded to hear the
trial At $50 the sheriff and deputy Jed tho
prisoner into the courtroom. a great many
IalisIHeH had been subpAuaed, but before the
regular tWenty-four had been exhausted
twelfe men were sclee cd 10 sea! his fate. As
Edwards had no attorney the state appointed